Association is a memory technique that involves connecting new information to something that a person already knows, understands, has experienced, or can easily remember. It works by creating mental connections between ideas, words, images, experiences, objects, sounds, places, emotions, or events to make information easier to learn, store and retrieve. In Use Your Perfect Memory by Tony Buzan, a heroic book on memory I recommend to all and sundry, we learn how the brain remembers information through association, imagination, exaggeration and visualisation. So, association means linking something new to something familiar so that remembering one thing helps you remember the other, too. For instance, a student who yearns to remember the name of a country such as Kenya can associate it with a familiar image of Mount Kenya. Therefore, when the student thinks about Mount Kenya, the association helps him or her to remember the name Kenya.
Association as a memory technique works so well because the human brain naturally connects related information rather than processing every piece of information in isolation. Its effectiveness is based on creating relationships between ideas rather than treating information as isolated facts. The golden principle of association is that the easier it is to connect new information to something meaningful and familiar, the easier it may become to remember and retrieve the information. So, to achieve success in the wise use of association to strengthen memory, create mental pictures while studying, learn historical events by using memorable stories, connect new lessons with previous ones, use songs and rhymes, focus on personal associations, and use group association activities.
Types of Association Used in Memory
There are several ways of creating associations to build memory. Firstly, there is visual association, which involves connecting information with mental pictures, drawings, symbols, colours, or images. So, students can use pictures, diagrams, mind maps, and symbols to remember complicated concepts. Meaning, learners create visual representations of things they yearn to learn and remember. For example, in remembering the word apple, students can associate the word apple with a mental picture of a red apple. Then, when remembering the Solar System, they associate each planet with a distinct mental picture. For instance: Mercury – a very hot rocky planet. Venus – a bright planet. Earth – a blue planet with life. Mars – a red planet. Jupiter – a giant planet.
Secondly, there is the auditory association, which involves connecting information with sounds, music, rhythm, rhymes and familiar words. It is more applicable when memorising lists, sequences, vocabulary, definitions, and scientific classifications. For example, this happens mostly at the rudimentary and elementary levels of learning: Learning Mathematics through songs. Using rhymes to learn languages. Associating the teacher’s name with a familiar sound. Using rhythmic repetition to remember things.
Thirdly, we have semantic association, which involves connecting information through meaning, concepts, relationships, and logical understanding. It helps learners retain content taught by understanding how ideas relate to one another. This unique technique is useful in subjects such as History, Geography, Biology, Business Studies, Literature and Religious Education (CRE, IRE or HRE). For example, in History, a student can associate Democracy with elections, voting, citizens, representation, freedom and participation.
Additionally, there is personal experience association, which involves connecting new information to personal experiences, memories, activities, or events. No wonder, students should strive to relate classroom concepts to everyday experiences. For example, while learning about Evaporation in Geography, a student can remember drying clothes in the sun. The experience assists the student to remember that water changes into water vapour through evaporation. Likewise, while learning about Leadership in Community Service Learning (CSL), the student can associate leadership with an experience of being a class captain or team captain in soccer.
Again, we have emotional association, which involves connecting information with emotions such as happiness, excitement, fear, or curiosity. Emotional experiences have a way of making certain memories remain etched in the brain. No wonder students need to use exciting classroom activities, share memorable stories, connect lessons with meaningful experiences and create positive learning environments. For example, a student who participates in an exciting science experiment can remember scientific principles better because the experience was interesting and meaningful.
Moreover, we have spatial association, which involves connecting information to particular physical locations or positions. This is akin to the Method of Loci, also known as the Memory Palace technique. For example, consider a student who wants to remember 5 items: (a) Mathematics, (b) Science, (c) History, (d) Geography, and (e) English. The student can imagine: Mathematics on the bedroom door. Science on the sitting room sofa. History on the kitchen table. Geography in the bathroom. English on the classroom desk. So, when mentally walking through these familiar locations, the student recalls the information.
Furthermore, there is number and word association, which involves connecting numbers with familiar words, objects, events, or images. This is applicable in remembering dates, telephone numbers, historical events and learning Mathematical sequences. For example, to remember the number 1945, the learner can associate it with the end of World War 2. To remember a telephone number, you chunk it into smaller groups and connect each group with a familiar pattern.
How Association Works in the Brain
More importantly, association works well by establishing connections between different pieces of information in the brain. When we learn something new, the brain processes the information and connects it with existing knowledge and experiences. The process cascades in 5 stages: (1) Receiving new information, where the learner encounters new information through reading, listening, observation, or experience. (2) Identifying familiar information, when the brain searches for familiar knowledge that can be connected to the new information. (3) Creating mental connections, when the student connects new information to familiar knowledge. (4) Strengthening memory connections, which is repeatedly thinking about, explaining and retrieving to assist in strengthening memory. (5) Retrieving information: remembering familiar information later acts as a cue, helping the learner to retrieve new information.
Benefits of Association Memory Technique
Finally, association as a technique improves memory, facilitates information retrieval, promotes meaningful learning, improves understanding, encourages creativity, supports long-term learning, reduces learning difficulties, encourages critical thinking, improves concentration and supports independent learning.
Victor Ochieng’ rolls out academic talks and training services. He trains learners in study strategies and Memory Techniques. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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